Block-molding machine.



J. 1;. HANCOCK. BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED D3018, 1905.

4 SHEETPPSHEETL A0 2 pl- I /5 4, J5 WITNESSES: l? [75726062, [NVENTOR v I v V rm: NORRIS PETERS cm, wasnmcrou. u. c.

PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907. V

A from/E 1 3 PATBNTED JAN. 15, 1907.

J. I. HANCOCK.

' BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.18, 1905.

4 SHEETSSHI]ET 2.

ww R xi Q m A TTORNE 11s" No. 841,515. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907. J. I. HANCOCK. BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC;18,1905. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lnvehtor Atforneys 1'": uonms PETERS 50., WASHINGTON. n. c.

PATENTED JAN. 15 1907. J. I. HANCOCK. BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.1B,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A TTOR/VE V5 WITNESSES:-

THE u'aRms PETERS co, WASHINGTON, n, c.

JOHN I. HANCOCK, OF LESTERSHIRE, NEW YORK.

BLOCK-MOLDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed December 18, 1905. Serial No. 292,337.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN I. HANoocK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Les- -tershire, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Block-Molding Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for the manufacture of hollow building-blocks from concrete and other plastic material, and has for its principal object to provide a mold-box which may be readily opened to permit the discharge of the finished block.

A further object of the invention is to provide a moldboX of that type in which division-plates are employed in the manufacture of less than a whole block and to provide means whereby such division-plates are withdrawn simultaneously with the opening of the mold-box.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which the front and rear walls may be readily adjusted toward and from each other for the purpose of changing the width of the block, the adjusting mechanism being operated from either the front or rear of the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a block-molding machine in which the hopper is formed of adjustably-connected members in order to permit its use in connection with the moldbox when the latter is adjusted for any width of block.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hopper which may be readily adjusted to and from operative position over the mold-box.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine having a vertically-movable core member which is moved upward above the top of the block during the opening of the mold-box, so that itmay be readily removed from the core-carrier in advance of the discharge of the block from the mold.

A still further object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction of the core-carrying mechanisms and to permit one of the core-carriers to remain in inoperative position when quarter or three-quarter blocks arebeing manufactured.

WVith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of con struction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accomp anying drawings, andp articularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a block-molding mav chine constructed in accordance with the invention looking from one end of the machine. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking from the front of the machine with the front plate or moldlowered and the hopper adjusted to inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view looking from the rear end of the machine, the end plates being shown in open position and the division-plates withdrawn, while the hopper in this view is shown in position above the mold-box in order to more clearly illustrate the construction.

Fig; 4 is a transverse sectional view through the cen- I ter of the machine. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken through the rear portion of the machine and showing the end plates in open position. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through one of the end plates and its supporting-arm. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view showing a modification of the mounting and arrangement of the end-plate structure.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawmgs.

The working parts of the machine are supported on a suitable framework 10, that is provided with bearings for a pair of transversely-disposed horizontal shafts 11 and 12, through which motion is imparted to the various movable parts of the machine. EX- tending across the upper portion of the frame is a plate 13, that forms a rest or support for a pallet 14, the pallet constituting the bottom wall of the mold. and being removable with the finished block. This plate and the pallet are provided with openings for the passage of vertically-movable core-carrying rods 15, on which are mounted core members 16, the latter being of any desired shape and size and preferably pro vided with inclined sides which taper from the top to the bottom of the core, so that the core may be readily forced upward'out of the finished block and afterward removed from its carrying-rod to permit the subsequent removal of the finished block from the mold. The front plate 17 of the mold may be of any suitable contour, and its lower edge is pivoted to lugs 18, projecting from a plate 18, that extends transversely across the front of the machine and is secured at its opposite ends to side bars 18*, that are arranged to slide in dovetailed grooves formed in the inner face of the upper portion of the main frame, so that the front plate may be moved toward and from the back plate in order to increase or decrease the width of the block molded. The front plate when lowered to horizontal position is supported by a pivoted finger 19, that is carried by the cross-bar or plate 18, the lower end of said finger having a projecting portion arranged to engage with an inwardly-extending lug 19, that is carried by the bar or plate 18, in order to limit the downward movement of said finger.

The rear wall 21 of the mold-box is formed of a vertically-disposed plate that is detachably secured to a horizontal frame 22, extending transversely across the upper portion of the main frame and having side arms 22, adapted to dovetailed guides formed in the outer faces of the main frame, the horizontal frame and the rear wall 21 being movable toward and from the front plate or wall of the mold in order to decrease or increase the width of the blocks molded. The horizontal frame 22 is provided with a depending bracket 23, having a threaded opening for the reception of the left-hand threads of a right and left hand screw 24, the right-hand thread of which engages a threaded opening formed in a bracket 23, that is secured to the inner face of the transverse plate or bar 18. The central portion of the threaded shaft extends through a guiding-bracket 23 that depends from a crossbar 13, forming a part of the fixed frame of the machine. The opposite ends of the screw project through suitable openings formed in the movable front and rear frames, and both ends of said screw are provided with a crank-engaging end of any suitable construction, the ends of the screw in the present instance being shown rectangular in form, so that either end may receive the socket-of a detachable oper ating-crank 26. By operating this crank to either end of the screw and turning thesame the width of the mold-box may be altered from either the front or the'rear of the machine. The rear plate 21 of the mold-box is provided with brackets 27, having horizontal portions, in which are formed openings for the passage of screws 27, that are carried by the horizontal frame 22, and on these screws are placed end nuts 75, which may be turned in order to firmly lock the brackets to the plate. By removing these sockets the entire rear wall and its brackets may be detached in order that another rear wall of clifferent length or of different height may be manner the front plate of the mold may be detached in order that another of different size may be employed.

Pivoted to the brackets 27 of the rear wall of the mold are arms 28, that carry the end walls 29 of the mold-box. The end plates 29 are detachable from the arms 28, each of said end plates being provided with a pair of lugs 29, that fit in corresponding sockets formed in the arms 28, and said end plates are firmly held in place by screws 29, which extend through the arms and enter threaded openings formed in the ends of the plates. This permits of the ready interchanging of end plates in order to correspond to the size of the front and rear plates. As a rule, however, it will not be necessary to change the end plates unless it is apparent that the rear plate, together with its plates and detached end plates, shall be removable as a whole from the machine, other structures, including rear plates and end plates of different size, being kept in stock, so that any of such structures may be readily placed in position on the horizontal frame 22 for the formation of blocks of any size.

Projecting from eachof the arms 28 is an auxiliary arm 30, that is connected by a link 31 to an arm 32, carried by the rock-shaft 12,

said arm being preferably formed of longitu- 5 dinally-adjustable sections in order to alter the effective throw of the arm in accordance with previous adjustment of the walls of the mold. Each of the end plates carries a link 32*, that is arranged to extend into a slot formed in the upper edge of the front plate, and at the front end of the link is a cam-lever 3-3, which may be turned in order to bind againstthe front wall of the front plate, and thus lock the latter firmly in place, the links serving also to lock the end plates and prevent outward movement thereof' during the molding or tamping of the material.

The shaft 12 is arock-shaft and is journaled in bearings 34, that are adjustably mounted on the side bars 22 of the horizontal frame 22, said side bars having horizontal slots 36 for the reception of bolts 37, by which the bearings are firmly clamped in any position to which they may be adjusted.

The rock-shaft 12 is provided with arockerarm 38, that is connected in the manner hereinafter described to a pedal-lever 39, which when depressed will effect simultaneous opening movement of the two end plates of the mold, and through this rock-shaft movement is also imparted to division-plates, if any are used, so that said division-plates may be withdrawn from the mold-box at the same time the end plates are moved to open position.

The horizontal frame 22 forms a support for a pair of plates 40, carrying angle-bars 11, disposed in parallel relation and forming 65 substituted therefor, and in corresponding l guides for division-plates 42 and 43, that are arrangedto pass through vertical slotsformed in the rear wall 21 of the mold-box, the plate 42 being employed if it is desired to form a half-block or two half-blocks and plate43 being used when it is desired to form a quarter-block or three-quarter block, or both division-plat es maybe employed for the formation of a half-block and two quarter-blocks. The divisionplates are each provided on one face with ribs 14, that enter suitable grooves formed in the vertical webs of the angle-ha 1s 11 and are thereby held from vertical displacement. Extending from each divisionplate is a stud 46, that is connected by a link 47 to a rocker-arm 48, carried by the rockshaft 12 and so arranged that when the shaft is moved for the purpose of opening the end plates of the mold-box the division-plates will be wiihdrawn from said mold box. Either or both of these division-plates may be readily disconnected from i he rocker-arms when it is desired io form a full-size block.

Depending from the plate 13, which supports the pallet 14, are two sets of verticallyguided bars 50, each set forming a guide for a cross-head 51, to which one of the core-carrying rods 15 is secured. The lower end of each core-head carries an antifriction-roller 52, which is engaged by a cam 53 on the shaft 11. One of these cams is secured to the rockshaft by means of a set-screw 54, which may be turned to release the cam and allow idle movement of the shaft with respect thereto when the core under the control of said cam is not usedas, for instance, where a quarter or three-quarter block is being made. '1 he shaft 1 1 is provided with a rigid arm 54, that is connected by a link 55 to the pedal 39, and when said pedal is depressed the end plates of the mold are moved to open position, the division-plates are withdrawn, and at the same time the cores are elevated until their lower faces are above the top of the moldboX. said cores'being then elevated from the carrying-rods 15, after which the rods may be lowered below the pallet and the finished block removed from the machine. In order to counterbalance the weight of the pedal, one of the cams 53 is provided with a counterweight 57 which tends to restore the rock shaft to its initial position after each opera' tion.

The frame is provided with a stud 60, on which is pivotally mounted a lever 61, connected by a link 62 to the rocker-arm 38 of shaft 12. The opposite or forward end of the lever 61 carries an adjustable arm 64,

that is provided with an antifriction-roller 65, and said roller is engaged in the path of movement of a rocker-arm 66, carried by the shaft 11, so that when said shaft 11 turns movement will be transmitted to the shaft 12 and from thence to the end plates and division-plates, the parts being so connected that the cores will be elevated slightly before the division-plates fare withdrawn and the mold is opened, thus lessening danger of injury to the block.

The hopper comprises a pair of substantially U-shaped frames 63 and 64, the end arms of which are longitudinally adjustable with respect to each other in order to permit adjustment in accordance with the adjustment of the mold-box. The arms of the portions 64 are provided with slots 65, through which locking-screws 66, carried by the arms of the rear section 63, may pass, the screws serving to lock the mold members in adjusted position. The rear portion of the hopper is pivotally connected to a pair of arms 67, the lower ends of said arms being adjustably connected to boxes 68, that are loosely pivoted on the shaft 12. The rear portion of the frame carries an arm 7 0, having a shoulder 71, against which the front wall of the hopper engages when said hopper is thrown to the rear, as indicated in Fig. 2, and in operating this portion of the device it is merely necessary to grasp the hopper and throw the same back from the mold-box, the front of the hopper engaging the shoulder 71, while the arms 67 swing with the shaft 12 as a center during the movement of the hopper toward and from its operative position.

As a modification of the end-plate structure the arms 28 pivoted to the brackets 27, see Fig. 7 may be provided with longitudinal slots 28 for the passage of bolts 28 and the end plates -29 may be arranged to slide to ard. and from the pivot-point of the arms 28 in order to alter the length of the mold-box. When the desired adjustment has been secured, the bolts are tightened and the end plate retained in adjusted position. When the box is lengthened, this will form a space between the end of the rear plate and the end plate, and to fill this space an auxiliary plate 21 is secured to the arm 28, anumber of the filling-plates 21 being kept in stock, so that a plate of any width may be inserted in accordance with the adjustment of the end plate.

In the operation of the machine, the parts being adjusted in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the concrete or other material is tamped around the cores, after which the hopper is thrown back to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the concrete is troweled off. The operator then depresses the pedal 39, and this movement is imparted through the earns 53 to the cores. Shortly after the cores start to move" the arm 66 engages the antifrictionroller 65, and the movement is transmitted to the rock-shaft 12 and from thence to the division-plates and the end plates of the mold, the division-plates being withdrawn and the end plates opened, it being necessary, of course, to first release the latter, the front plate to drop to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In .a block-molding machine, a mold having movable end walls, and slidable division-plates, and an operating means for simultaneously sliding the division-plates from the mold and opening the end Walls of the mold. I

2. In a block-molding machine, a moldbox having pivoted end walls, and provided with a slotted rear wall, division-plates movable through the slots, guiding means for said division-plates, and an operating means for simultaneously moving the division-plates and the end walls.

3. In a block-molding machine, a mold boX having a slotted rear wall, angle-bars arranged outside the rear wall, division-plates slidably mounted between said angle-bars, there being a rib-and-groove connection be tween the division-plates and angle-bars to maintain them in proper relative positions,

and means for sliding said division-plates into and from the mold-box.

4. In a block-molding machine, a moldboX having a slotted rear wall, angle-bars arranged outside the rear wall, and in alinement with the walls of the slots, the anglebars being grooved, division-plates slidable between the angle-bars and having ribs entering said grooves, and means for sliding 1s)aid division-plates into and from the mold- 5. In a block-molding machine, a moldbox having pivoted end members, arms roj ecting therefrom, a rock-shaft having rockerarms, links connecting the rocker-arms to the arms of said end walls, slidable divisionplates, rocker-arms and links connecting the same to the rock-shaft, a pedal-lever, and.

' means operatively connecting such pedal-lever to the rock-shaft.

6. In a block-molding machine, the combination with a frame, of a front mold-plate pivoted thereto, a slidable frame mounted on the main frame, a screw for adjusting the slidable frame in the manufacture of blocks of different width, a plate forming the rear wall of the mold and carried by the slidable fiiame, and end plates pivoted to said rear ate.

p 7. The combination in a block-forming machine, of a mold-box, a plurality of corecarrying rods, freely detachable cores carried by the rods, cross-heads secured to the lower ends of said rods, means for guiding said cross-heads, cams for elevating the crossheads, a shaft carrying said cams, and means for detachably connecting one or more of the cams to said shaft.

8. Ina block-molding machine, the combination with a mold-box, having movable end walls, of cores, core-carriers, a shaft, cams carried by said shaft and serving to elevate the core-carriers, means for operating the shaft, and means operable from said shaft, after the starting of the core movement, for opening said end walls.

9. The combination in a block-molding machine, of a mold-box having movable end walls, a rocleshaft, means for connecting the rock-shaft to the end walls, a rocker-arm on said shaft, cores, vertically-movable core-carrying rods, a main shaft, cams carried by the shaft and adapted to raise said rods, an arm on said main shaft, a lever pivoted to the frame and having one end coimected .to the rocker-arm, an adjustable arm carried by the opposite end of the lever, an antifrictionroller supported by the adjustable arm and disposed in the path of movement of the arm of the main shaft, and means for actuating said main shaft.

10. The combination in a block-forming machine, of a mold-box, and a hopper having supporting-links connected to its rear edge and serving to support said hopper during its movement to and from operative position.

11. In a block-forming machine, a moldbox, a hopper formed of a plurality of adjust able sections, and a plurality of links forming a movable support for the rear portion of said hopper.

12. The combination in a block-molding machine, of a frame, slidable front and rear frames supported thereby, a front plate carried by the slidable front frame, a rear late carried by the slidable rear plate, end p ates pivoted on such rear plate, nuts on the slidable frames, and a screw having right and left hand threads entering such nuts to permit adjustment of the width of the mold-box.

, 13. The combination of a block-molding machine, of a main frame having grooved inner and outer walls, slidable front and rear frames having end arms fitting within said grooves, mold-walls carried by the slidable frames, nuts carried by said slidable frames, a screw-shaft having right and left hand threads engaging said nuts, the opposite ends of said shaft being arranged to receive an op erating-crank to permit adjustment of either the front or rear of the machine.

14. In a block-molding machine, the combination with the front and rear walls, of end plates carrying arms, end plates having terminal. lugs arranged to seat in recesses in the arms, and securing-screws for locking the end plates to said arms.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN I. HANCOCK.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. BUSTIN, MAURICE CONSTABLE. 

